The Juke compact SUV is expected to be positioned below the Dualis model, giving Nissan a new entry point to its SUV range. The announcement comes a few months after the company’s CEO and managing director, Bill Peffer, told Drive he “was working on it” and “If I get my way ... well, stay tuned.” It seems Mr Peffer got his way.

Nissan Australia public relations and corporate communications manager Peter Fadeyev confirmed the Juke “will be heading to Australia” and that it is expected to arrive here in the third quarter of next year.

The new Nissan Juke

The new Nissan Juke is a mini crossover designed to go head-to-head in Europe with the new Mini Countryman soft-roader.

Mr Fadeyev confirmed the new model will be offered in both two- and all-wheel-drive, meaning the Juke will be equipped with a 1.6-litre turbo engine producing 140kW/240Nm – the same as is fitted to the incoming Pulsar SSS – in at least one variant, as that is the only Juke model with AWD.

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Other engines may include a 1.5-litre turbo diesel or 1.6-litre petrol engine, but the exact details are expected to be revealed closer to the car’s launch.

Nissan already sells the Juke in New Zealand, where it’s priced from $NZ31,990 ($25,430). In contrast, the larger Dualis range currently starts at $24,990 plus on-road costs in Australia, so some work may need to be done to make the Juke fit into the line-up.

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25 comments so far

They gotta do somethin about that front end... nobody on earth could put up with that - well maybe Bridezilla..

Commenter

Davo

Location

Langers

Date and time

October 18, 2012, 3:18PM

I think Australians just want to complain Last week you were complaining the Pulsar is too ordinary this week you are complaining the Juke is too strange. Frankly I don't know why international companies bother with such a piddling market anyway. I suppose as Australia seems incapable of making cars Australians want to buy you have to get them from other countries.

Commenter

Brenda

Location

Date and time

October 18, 2012, 10:17PM

It looked a bit weird at first but travelling through Europe, I saw loads of these cars and it just grew on me. I quite like the look now.

Commenter

Traveller

Location

Date and time

January 07, 2013, 5:22AM

Between this and the news that Holden are considering getting rid of the Commodore for yet another SUV, it is a sad, sad, sad day in the motoring world. The zombie apocalypse is well and truly here...

Commenter

lolwat

Location

Date and time

October 18, 2012, 3:42PM

My eyes! My Eyes! this 'thing' is blinding me!

Last time this appeared on Drive, people actually stood up for it and called Aussies lame for not being adventurous.